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Rescue work at Ask in Gjerdrum on Saturday night.
Photograph: Jil Yngland / NTB / TT
Norway (TT)
A total of three people have been found dead in the landslides after the landslide at Ask in the Norwegian Gjerdrum. Two of the bodies were discovered on Saturday.
Police reported the third confirmed death in the night.
-We made a new find after tagging with a dog, says Roy Alkvist, manager of police operations, at a press conference.
The body, believed to be in the same building where a deceased person was previously found, has yet to be rescued, NTB writes.
The two bodies were discovered less than 100 meters in the area of the landslide and were found after rescuers worked with a probability calculation on where the chance of finding someone alive would be greatest.
Seven people are still missing, but according to police, they still have hope of finding survivors.
-Natural forces and time are not on our side, said Ida Melbo Øystese in the Norwegian police at a press conference during lunch, but added:
-We have seen areas where there may be air pockets, this is where we prioritize our work now.
“Unstable”
The rescue effort came to a halt the night before Saturday, when the area was searched by drones and thermal cameras. On-site work in the crater is considered dangerous in the dark, as rescue personnel must be alert to the edge of the avalanche where further landslides may occur.
But the night before Sunday, rescue efforts will continue despite this, police announced on Saturday.
Rescue work has been hampered by all the precautionary measures that must be taken in the crater.
-It is so unstable that we cannot work as fast as we want, says Ida Melbo Øystese.
-We will continue to search as long as possible, says Roy Alkvist.
“Unique landslide”
According to Toril Hofshagen of the Norwegian Water and Energy Agency (NVE), the landslide is unique to Norway.
-Something with this dimension has not happened since 1893 in Norway, he says.
According to Hofshagen, there is no other area in Norway where you need to worry about something similar.
– Until now there is no need for new evacuations.
Swedish operation completed
Bjørn Nuland, operations manager responsible for health care, stated on Friday that the more time passes, the lower the chances of finding survivors in the landslide. At the same time, he says the medical group at the scene still has reason to believe that there may be survivors.
-There are examples of animals rescued alive after a long time. There may be air pockets in landslides. We work to save lives until hope runs out, he tells VG.
The Swedish rescue group that participated in the search has ended their efforts since they were replaced by a Norwegian group.
Approximately 1,000 people have been evacuated and more than 30 houses have been destroyed by the landslide.
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